Coronavirus: 7 Ways to Disinfect Your House During the Pandemic

If there’s one good habit that the coronavirus has inculcated in people, it’s the urgency and seriousness in maintaining hygiene standards. A lot of us know from before how important it is to take care of our personal cleanliness as well as that of our surroundings. But, the acuteness of the situation has caused us to adopt more stringent measures when it comes to cleanliness; it has made us come out of our “auto-pilot” mode and be more conscious about our cleaning practices.

Washing the hands according to the 20-second rule is one of the things we’re all practicing religiously. Sanitizers, soaps, and antibacterial wipes have been selling like crazy, and some people have even been stock-piling this stuff in fear of running short on them – all this in order to ensure their safety.

Up until now, most of us are probably well-aware of how the coronavirus spreads – through close contact with other infected people, primarily via their respiratory droplets. The virus is known to be highly contagious and can be transmitted from one infected individual to many others, and they can further transfer it to many more, and the multiplication continues. With no vaccine available so far, we need to protect ourselves from catching the virus in the first place. Protecting ourselves also includes being more regular and thorough in cleaning our homes and surroundings.

Know what to do

First things first – know the difference between “cleaning” and “disinfecting”. Pre-COVID-19, we were all accustomed to hearing the term ‘cleaning’ in our everyday lives. The outbreak of the pandemic has made us raise our standards of hygiene by making cleaning a two-step process – first cleaning, then disinfecting. Cleaning will require you to remove dirt and debris from surfaces by wiping them down with a cloth dipped in a detergent solution, distilled white vinegar, or simply warm water.

Cleaning will be followed by disinfecting using a disinfectant solution to kill viruses and bacteria residing on the surfaces. For this, Dr. Darshna Yagnik suggests using alcohol-based disinfectants, a 70% alcohol solution, or the household bleach solution diluted in cold water.

1.    Focus on the high-touch surfaces

The germ hotspots in your house such as the kitchen and bathrooms tend to get more attention in terms of the frequency of cleaning. But there are other surfaces that are considered ‘high-touch’ such as door handles, light switches, tabletops, etc., that require your attention too. These surfaces are carrying countless germs all the time, and leaving them uncleaned days on end is not something you want to risk.

You can use disinfectant wipes like Lysol, Clorox, etc., or a diluted bleach solution can also serve the purpose quite well. The best way is to spray the disinfectant solution on any clean cloth or microfiber cloth and wipe all the surfaces with it, then let them air-dry or dry them using a clean cloth. If you’re using bleach, make sure you don’t forget to rinse it off.

2.   Use disinfectant sprays

There are other surfaces in your house on which wipes might not work that well. Your carpets, sofas, mattresses, etc. can then be cleaned using a spray instead of wipes. Carpet Cleaning Epsom offers deep-cleaning services for your carpets, rugs, and upholstery, but you can choose to avoid the risk and do your cleaning yourself. Use Lysol or any other disinfectant spray, by keeping the spray bottle a few inches away while spraying so that the solution spreads over a wider area. Cover the entire surface with the spray and let it air-dry completely before walking or sitting over it.

3.    Steam-cleaning

Steam-cleaning is a great way to clean and disinfect things, as it thoroughly removes dust and grime from heavy-use surfaces. Steam-cleaners can be used to kill dangerous germs and bacteria around the house, but care has to be taken so as not to use them over wooden surfaces. However, they can be used over carpets, curtains, and other upholstery. Using certain attachments, they can even clean away your hobs and ovens.

4.    Do not forget the shared devices

Apart from the major high-traffic areas and frequently touched surfaces at home, it’s crucial not to ignore the devices shared by all family members. These include video game and TV remote controls, desktop and laptop keyboards, home phones, tablets, even your debit cards! These devices also carry a lot of germs and it’s important to disinfect them regularly to keep your loved ones safe. Use a soft cloth to dust off the dirt, then use a disinfectant wipe to get rid of the germs.

5.    Bleach mixture for floors

Floors in the house are of one the most highly frequented surfaces, carrying germs and viruses brought from outside through your shoes and your kids’ pushchairs. Consider mopping them with bleach solution – bleach diluted in water in an appropriate ratio – daily. More potent cleaning solutions can be used as well, but be careful about the type of surface – hardwood floors should be cleaned with a diluted white vinegar solution or simply a disinfecting mop cloth.

6.    Hydrogen peroxide for tough stains

Around 3% hydrogen peroxide is known to kill viruses within a span of a few minutes, so cleaning your bathtubs, sinks, countertops, and toilets with it should be a good option. Pour the substance over the surface and give it some contact time – let it sit for 10-15 minutes. After that, take a rough towel to scrub the area and rinse with water.

7.    Disinfect the cleaning cloths

Finally, always remember to disinfect the cleaning cloths, sponges, and brushes after every use. Using the same cloth over and over again will only spread the germs even more. If possible, keep separate cloths for every room and use a detergent solution to wash them off every time you use them. When machine-washing, use the highest temperature setting so as to kill all the bacteria and germs on them.